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Ethicon Media Monitoring 3/28/2019
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Mesh implants wrongly used in dozens of patients, NHS admits
Mar 27, 2019 | The Guardian
By Jedijadah and agency
More than 50 patients who were given a controversial type of bowel surgery involving artificial mesh implants should not have been operated on, a hospital trust has admitted. -
More than 50 bowel surgery patients should not have been operated on by well-known doctor, hospital admits
Mar 28, 2019 | Telegraph
By Telegraph Reporters
More than 50 patients who were given a controversial form of bowel surgery by a well-known surgeon should not have been operated on, a hospital trust has admitted. -
Bristol bowel mesh surgery 'left me disabled in many ways'
Mar 28, 2019 | BBC News
Almost half of patients who were given a controversial type of bowel surgery should not have been operated on, a hospital trust has admitted. -
Hernia mesh surgery complications; everything you need to know
Mar 25, 2019 | RT
Farron Cousins and attorney Robert Price discuss hernia mesh surgeries. With more than one million surgical procedures performed in the US each year, hernia surgery has become one of the most common operations performed in this country.
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
Online Sources
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Mesh implants wrongly used in dozens of patients, NHS admits
Mar 27, 2019 | The Guardian
By Jedijadah and agency
More than 50 patients who were given a controversial type of bowel surgery involving artificial mesh implants should not have been operated on, a hospital trust has admitted.
Dozens of women should not have received a pelvic floor surgery using mesh at Southmead hospital in Bristol, an investigation found.
In 2017 the Guardian uncovered a national scandal surrounding mesh procedures, revealing that thousands of women had ended up undergoing surgery to remove the implants, which can be used to remedy health problems after childbirth.
Last summer the government had to order a suspension of the procedure to prevent further risk of “life-changing and life-threatening injuries” to women, amid mounting pressure from campaigners.
In the Southmead case, a surgeon, Anthony Dixon, was suspended in 2017 after concerns were first raised and an inquiry examined 143 cases.
Dixon, who also worked at the private Spire hospital in Bristol, pioneered the use of artificial mesh to lift prolapsed bowels – often caused by childbirth – in a technique known as laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR).
North Bristol NHS trust has now told 57 patients they should have been offered alternative treatment first, after an investigation into their care.
The General Medical Council has imposed sanctions on Dixon, stipulating that he is banned from carrying out this type of surgery until November 2019.
Another 73 patients considered by the review have been told the surgery they received was appropriate, while a further 13 patients were told that investigations into their cases will be completed as soon as possible.
After concerns were raised about pelvic floor surgery, the trust began a review of the cases of women and men who underwent LVMR between 2007 and 2017.
Dr Chris Burton, the medical director of North Bristol NHS trust, said: “I want to apologise to all patients who have received surgery unnecessarily – it is unacceptable and we are taking it extremely seriously.
“We took immediate action to ensure this couldn’t happen again and have been supporting patients where they need it. We will keep investigating to ensure we have identified those patients affected by these issues, and to find out what happened to learn lessons for future care.”
The law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represents 49 people who underwent surgery at Southmead and Spire hospitals, called on the trust to reveal its findings.
Solicitor Sallie Booth said: “Today’s announcement by North Bristol NHS trust is extremely concerning and understandably has caused a great deal of distress to our clients. The trust should now openly publish its findings to the patients concerned – rather than force them to get to the truth only through a stressful litigation process.”
Irwin Mitchell has already agreed terms with the trust for a scheme to consider compensation.Booth added that her law firm’s investigations suggested that the use of mesh in this type of surgery had potentially “long-term adverse consequences”.
Dixon is currently the subject of interim conditions of practice while the General Medical Council carries out a full investigation.
A GMC spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the outcome of North Bristol NHS trust’s investigation and the concerns that patients will be experiencing.
“While our own investigation is ongoing, Dr Dixon has had interim conditions placed on his practice by an interim orders tribunal at the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.”
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/27/mesh-implants-wrongly-used-in-dozens-of-patients-nhs-admits
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Mar 28, 2019 | Telegraph
By Telegraph Reporters
More than 50 patients who were given a controversial form of bowel surgery by a well-known surgeon should not have been operated on, a hospital trust has admitted.
Dozens of women say they were left in severe pain after pelvic floor surgery using artificial mesh at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Tony Dixon, one of Britain's best known surgeons in the area, was suspended in 2017 after concerns were first raised and an inquiry examined 143 cases.
Among them were Lucinda Methuen-Campbell, who underwent bowel surgery at a private hospital in 2016.
She was allegedly told by Mr Dixon that her ovaries had been removed “because they were in the way” - a move that she had not authorised and which left her in agony.
Ms Metheun-Campbell later took her own life after the vaginal mesh implant left her struggling to find any way out of the pain.
Mr Dixon, who also worked at the private Spire Hospital in Bristol, pioneered the use of artificial mesh to lift prolapsed bowels - a technique known as laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) - often caused by childbirth.
North Bristol NHS Trust has told 57 patients they should have been offered alternative treatment first following an investigation into their care.
Another 73 patients considered by the review have been told the surgery they received was appropriate.
further 13 patients have been told that investigations into their cases remain ongoing and will be completed as soon as possible.
After concerns were raised about pelvic floor surgery, the trust began a review of the cases of women and men who underwent the procedure between 2007 and 2017.
Dr Chris Burton, medical director of the North Bristol NHS Trust, said: "I want to apologise to all patients who have received surgery unnecessarily - it is unacceptable and we are taking it extremely seriously.
"We took immediate action to ensure this couldn't happen again and have been supporting patients where they need it.
"We will keep investigating to ensure we have identified those patients affected by these issues, and to find out what happened to learn lessons for future care."
Law firm Irwin Mitchell represents 49 people who underwent surgery at Southmead and Spire hospitals and called on the trust to "openly publish its findings".
Solicitor Sallie Booth said: "It is vital that reasons why this was allowed to happen are established."
Irwin Mitchell has already agreed terms with North Bristol NHS Trust for a scheme to consider compensation.
The General Medical Council has imposed sanctions on Mr Dixon, which includes not being allowed to carry out this type of surgery and runs until November 2019.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/03/27/50-bowl-surgery-patients-should-not-have-operated-well-known/
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Bristol bowel mesh surgery 'left me disabled in many ways'
Mar 28, 2019 | BBC News
Almost half of patients who were given a controversial type of bowel surgery should not have been operated on, a hospital trust has admitted.
Dozens of women were left in severe pain after pelvic floor surgery using artificial mesh at Southmead Hospital in Bristol.
Paula Goss, 49, from south Gloucestershire, was told the surgery "would change her life [and] would make everything better".
North Bristol NHS Trust has written to 57 patients telling them they should have been offered alternative treatment first.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-bristol-47727801/bristol-bowel-mesh-surgery-left-me-disabled-in-many-ways
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Hernia mesh surgery complications; everything you need to know
Mar 25, 2019 | RT
Farron Cousins and attorney Robert Price discuss hernia mesh surgeries. With more than one million surgical procedures performed in the US each year, hernia surgery has become one of the most common operations performed in this country. With medical companies rushing to get new hernia-repair products on the market, the rigorous testing that should be done is tossed by the wayside, and ultimately, the patients are the ones who pay the price. Plus RT Correspondent Brigida Santos discusses how Kansas is grappling with over-crowded prisons and a shortage of corrections officers.
https://www.rt.com/shows/americas-lawyer/454944-hernia-surgery-us-common-operations/
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